F1 2026: Bahrain Grand Prix Qualifying Recap

Verstappen picks up stunning first pole of 2026 season

Red Bulls’ Max Verstappen picked up his first pole position of the Formula One 2026 season as the Dutchman stormed to pole at Sepang for the Bahrain Grand Prix 2026. It was not only Verstappen’s first pole of the season but also Red Bulls’ first pole with the Ford Powertrains project. Joining Verstappen on the front row will be his old rival and seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton with the two former winners at Sepang putting in a stunning qualifying session in Malaysia.

Red Bulls’ Isack Hadjar qualified third but will start in eighth place due to him set to take an engine penalty which means championship leader Kimi Antonelli and Charles Lecerc will be starting on the second row. For Verstappen, it was his first pole position since the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025.

If you missed the action from the Bahrain Grand Prix 2026, here’s a quick recap.

Q1 – Aston Martin duo makes Q2 together for the first time in the season

The Haas duo were first on track before Kimi Antonelli led George Russell with the championship leader putting in a 1:37.041s to go fastest. Verstappen knocked Antonelli off the top spot with a 1:36.477s, more than half a second quicker than Antonelli. Verstappen’s teammate Hadjar and the Ferrari duo both were unable to match the Dutchman’s early time with Hamilton coming closest by going 0.118s slower. 

After the first runs, the usual suspects were in the drop zone as the Cadillacs, Aston Martins, the Haas duo and Alex Albon were looking at elimination. As the session came to an end, Verstappen’s first time remained the quickest of the session but it was Nico Hülkenberg, Ollie Bearman, Esteban Ocon, Alex Albon, Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez missing out. The Aston Martin duo of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll put in strong final laps to get out of Q1 as did Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto and the Williams of Carlos Sainz at the very end.

Drivers eliminated in Q1:

Nico Hülkenberg

Ollie Bearman

Esteban Ocon

Alex Albon

Valtteri Bottas

Sergio Pérez

Q2 – Verstappen quickest again as Bortoleto squeezes through at the very end

Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar was on the track first to get Q2 underway along with his teammate and Hadjar put up a 1:36.192 before Verstappen went quicker with a 1:35.696s. Antonelli slotted in behind Verstappen with a 1:36.075s. Antonelli, Leclerc and Piastri all came close but no one was able to go faster. 

As the clock ticked down and the chequered flag came out the Aston Martin duo, Carlos Sainz, Franco Colapinto and Gabriel Bortoleto struggled in the drop zone with Colapinto and Lindblad not having put up a time due to them set to serve an engine penalty. Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson was dropped into the elimination zone right at the very end as Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto made Q3 at the very end. Liam Lawson, Fernando Alonso, Carlos Sainz, Lance Stroll, Franco Colapinto and Arvid Lindblad missed out on making the final top 10 shootout.

Drivers eliminated in Q2:

Liam Lawson

Fernando Alonso

Carlos Sainz

Lance Stroll

Franco Colapinto

Arvid Lindblad

Q3 – Verstappen untouchable as Dutchman picks up first pole since 2025

George Russell kicked off Q3 before Isakc Hadjar’s 1:35.558s saw him put up the quickest time early on with Hamilton 0.187s slower than Hadjar. Hadjar was dislodged from the top spot when Max Verstappen put in his first time, going 1:35.250a, three-tenths clear of his teammate and a considerable distance ahead from the rest of the grid. 

Verstappen on his final run went even quicker, going 1:35.130 to take provisional pole and it became his first pole position of the season as Hamilton came closest, being 0.298s slower while the Mercedes duo were nowhere close to Verstappen. Hadjar finished third but an engine penalty means that he will drop five places which would see Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc move up to the second row behind Verstappen and Hamilton. The Mercedes and McLaren duos meanwhile had a poor qualifying with George Russell qualifying a shocking P8.

Starting grid for the Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 (before penalties applied):

1. Max Verstappen

2. Lewis Hamilton

3. Isack Hadjar*

4. Kimi Antonelli

5. Charles Leclerc

6. Lando Norris

7. Oscar Piastri

8. George Russell

9. Pierre Gasly

10. Gabriel Bortoleto

11. Liam Lawson

12. Fernando Alonso

13. Carlos Sainz

14. Lance Stroll

15. Franco Colapinto*

16. Arvid Lindblad*

17. Nico Hülkenberg

18. Ollie Bearman

19. Esteban Ocon

20. Alex Albon

21. Valtteri Bottas

22. Sergio Pérez

*Set to serve engine penalties